[2020 National Audit] "Jeon Hyun-hee, Undermining the Pillars and Fundamental Roots of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission"

"Chairman Came Before Confirming 'Facts' Not Previously Done"
"Principle Is to Confirm Facts in Specific Individual Cases"

Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission attended the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee hearing on the 15th for the audit of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and took the witness oath. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] On the 15th, Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party, criticized Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), saying, "You are destroying the pillars and fundamental roots of the ACRC."

At the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee audit held that day, Rep. Seong pointed out, "During former Minister Cho Kuk's time, the commission issued an opinion that there was a conflict of interest related to the investigation, but after Chairperson Jeon took office, they stated there was no conflict of interest regarding the prosecution's investigation into Minister Choo's son."

The ACRC issued an authoritative interpretation that the prosecution's investigation into Minister Choo's son over allegations of preferential military leave did not constitute a conflict of interest with Minister Choo. Although Minister Choo was considered a private interested party, it was judged that there was no job-relatedness since she did not intervene in or exercise command over the investigation.

However, former ACRC Chairperson Park Eun-jung had previously issued an authoritative interpretation suggesting that there could be a private conflict of interest in the case where former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's wife, Professor Jung Kyung-shim, and family were under prosecution investigation during his tenure.

The ACRC stated that at that time, they did not review specific facts such as whether former Minister Cho directed or received reports on the investigation from the Ministry of Justice or prosecution.

When Rep. Seong asked, "Minister Choo sent her aide a phone number; why is there no job-relatedness?" former Chairperson Jeon replied, "Sending a number to an aide is not an issue related to the investigation."

Former Chairperson Jeon added, "The principles of the ACRC's authoritative interpretations during the previous minister's time and the current minister's time are the same. However, regarding the specific issue of investigation command authority, fact-checking was not conducted during the previous administration."

Rep. Seong asked, "Have you ever conducted fact-checking?" and former Chairperson Jeon responded, "As a principle, fact-checking is conducted on specific, individual cases concerning particular persons."

Rep. Seong criticized, "There was never fact-checking before, so why did the former chairperson come and do it now?" Former Chairperson Jeon said, "Please understand that the procedures were followed specifically and accurately regarding the factual matters."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.